Gate.



No. 683,694. A Patented Oct. l90l. T. D. LIVINGSTONE.

GATE; (Appli cation filed July 5, 1901;

(No Model.)

m: "cams mum co. warm-11.40., mskru UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS D. LIVINGSTONE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI;

'GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 0. 683,694, dated October1, 1901.

Application filed July 5, 1901. Serial No. 67,081. (No model.)

T0 all whorl" it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS D. LlVING- STONE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grates,-of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to gates, and more particularly to that class whichinstead of a hinge-post is provided with a pivot-guide for the purposeof insuring the equilibrium of the gate and the concentration of itsweight entirely upon a little wheel or roller arranged at a convenientpoint and supporting the gate as it swings open or shut, my object beingto produce a gate of this character of simple, strong, durable, andcheap construction which can be easily, quickly, and cheaply applied toor removed from a fence-opening.

With this object in view the invention consists in certain novel andpeculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, ashereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fullyunderstood refer ence is to be had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure l is a perspective view of a gate embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line II II of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the wheel or rollercarrying frame.

In the said drawings, 1 designates the oblong rectangular frame of agate, the same by preference being constructed of angleiron embracing asingle piece bent to proper form or a number of pieces bolted together,as desired, as this feature is unimportant. This skeleton frame isbraced centrally by two vertical braces 2 3, arranged closely togetherand riveted or otherwise secured to the upper and lower portions of theframe. The gate is also stiffened and strengthened by means ofangle-braces et 5, said anglebraces extending from the upper, front, andrear corners of the gate-frame to points on the lower portion abouthalf-way between the end portions and said vertical braces. Wires 4.extend from one end to the other of the gate-frame and form at once alight and niceappearing closure for the same. At the points ofintersection the vertical and angle braces are rigidly united by rivets6, a rivet or bolt 7 also connecting the angle-braces at their point ofintersection and forming a guide for the vertical frame 8 by extendingthrough the vertical slot 9 thereof. The lower end of this frame is offorked or inverted-U form, and it is preferably constructed by bendingthe main portion, as shown at 10, and riveting to the upper arm of thesame a right-angle arm 11, projecting in the opposite direction, saidarms terminating in bearing-sleeves 12 at their lower ends for thespindle of the roller or wheel 13. This wheel is arranged transverselyof the gate, and to accommodate it properly the lower'part of the frameWhere it intersects braces 2 3 is bent or bowed outwardly, as shown at14. The upper end of the frame provides a fulcrum 15 for handlever 16,pivoted, as at 17, on brace3, the opposite end of the lever beingadapted to engage lower notch 18 or upper notch 19 of catch 20, securedto the front end of the gateframe. WVhen engaged with notch 18, the gaterests upon the ground for its full length, as shown clearly in thedrawings, this being its position of rest, in which it can be fastenedin any suitable or preferred manner.

When it is desired to open the gate, the lever is grasped near its frontor free end and raised along the catch 20 and caused to engage notch 19.As it moves upward the gate tilts slightly upward at its front end, forthe reason that the wheel 13 is immovable as regards vertical movement.When engaged with notch 19, the front end of the gate is a few inchesfrom the ground and the rear end rests lightly on a wear-plate or stone20*, provided for the purpose of preventing the hinge end of the gatefrom making a cavity in the ground, wherein water would settle andeffect a more rapid corrosion of the gate-frame. The gate travels uponthe roller or supporting-wheel 13 as it is opened or closed and escapesany conflict with irregularities in the surface of the ground, becausethe wheel accommodates itself to the surface thereofand practicallyinsures a movement of the gate parallel to the ground whether thesurface of the latter be straight or rolling. As the disposition of therolling support at the center of the gate practically relieves the hingeend of all duty except that of preventing its toppling over sidewise,there is no necessity at the hinge end for the usual rigid post em--bedded tightly in the ground, though of course such post may beemployed, if desired.

Preferably the fence A at the hinge end of the gate has its rails aprojecting beyond a post and provided with staples b to hold and supportthe hinge-rod c, the lower end of the same fitting loosely in theangular hinge-plate 21, secured to the gate, and the upper end engagingthe longitudinal slot 23 of the upper hinge-plate 22. This rod issufficient to prevent the gate from slipping sidewise, and the slot 23is of such length that the gate may be elevated and lowered Withoutbringing the end of the slot in contact with the rod at all. The gate islowered by simply disconnecting the lever 16 from notch 19 andpermitting the weight of the gate to slide it down the face of the catchuntil notch 18 is reached, the gate rest-ing lightly upon the ground atthe moment of such engagement.

It is obvious that a gate of this character built of angleiron possessesgreat rigidity and strength in proportion to its weight and that it canbe manufactured at a low cost. It is also obvious that it can be set upin operative position at far less expense than the ordinary gate,because the usual hinge-post can be dispensed with.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced agate embodying the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in thestatement of invention, and while I have illustrated and described whatI deem at this time my preferred construction it is apparent thatvarious changes as regards its form, proportion, detail construction,and arrangement may be made without departing from the principle ofconstruction and operation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A gate pivoted to have a slight vertical as well as the usual lateralmovement, and provided at its front end with a catch having notches atdifferent altitudes, a vertical frame suitably guided and provided witha Wheel or roller resting on the ground, and a lever pivoted to the gateand fulcrumed on said frame and adapted when engaging the lower notch topermit the gate to rest upon the ground, and when engaging the uppernotch to hold the gate above the ground and dispose its weight upon saidwheel or roller, substantially as described.

2. A gate pivoted to have a slight vertical as well as the usual lateralmovement, a guide pin or rivet therein, a vertical frame having a slotengaging said guide pin or rivet, a wheel or roller mounted in the lowerpart of said frame and resting on the ground, a lever pivoted to thegate and f ulcrumed on said frame, and adapted to have movement in avertical plane, and a catch having a lower notch and an upper notchforengagement by said lever, substantially as described.

3. A gate pivoted to have a slight vertical as well as the usual lateralmovement, and embodying vertical braces near its center, angle-bracesintersecting each other between said vertical braces, a pin or rivetconnecting said angle-braoes at their point of intersection, a verticalframe arranged between said vertical and angle braces, and provided witha slot engaging said pin or rivet, a wheel or roller mounted in thelower end of said frame, a lever pivoted to the gate and fulcrumed onsaid frame, and a notched catch secured to the front end of the gate forengagement by said lever, substantially as described.

at. The combination of a hinge-rod,- a gate provided with a lowerhinge-plate loosely engaging the hinge-rod, and an upper hingeplatehaving a longitudinal slot engaging the hinge-rod,a notched catchsecured to the front end of the gate, a vertical frame supported aboutmidway the gate and provided with a supporting wheel or roller, and alever pivoted to the gate and fulcru med on said frame and adapted toengage said notched catch to suspend the weight of the gate on saidwheel or roller or not as desired, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS D. LIVINGSTONE. Witnesses:

H. C. RODGERS, G. Y. THORPE..

